Students at Gray Station Middle School recently got a big dose of positivity from people they recognized as social influencers and celebrities promoting the importance of good mental health.
Members of the Hope Givers team performed three separate shows March 18 to allow all students in grades 6-8 could attend. The performances lasted less than an hour, but during that time students were engaged, laughing, dancing and most importantly listening to the theme of the importance of selfcare and seeking help when its needed.
The performers were LT Fresh, a musician and actor; Stephanie Hong, an actor who is also on the PBS Hope Givers shows; and Russell Horning, an actor and social influencer known as the Backpack Kid.
Horning is perhaps best known as the creator of “The Floss” dance. All the performers are Georgia- based actors. The group leader and show’s producer is Elliot Tranter.
The first Hope Givers performances in Jones County were at Jones County High School in January.
During the GSMS performance, the performers interacted with the students and talked about some of the ups and downs in their lives.
Stephanie said being a Hope Giver lets her be herself.
“Size, race or how we look doesn’t matter,” she said.
The performer talked about ways that she relaxes if feeling stressed, including yoga and meditating. Students added other ways they use, such as breathing exercises, taking walks and dancing.
Stephanie said she also sees a therapist when she needs more help.
The students were asked about trusted adults, and they mentioned teachers Alexus Humphries and Susan Jannakos.
Horning talked about the 988 hotline and had the students chanting the number.
The event concluded with a dancing contest.
The Hope Givers founder is Tamlin Hall, who participates at many of the performances but was not at this one. His effort toward good mental health in students was the result of a friend’s death by suicide at the age of 19. Hope Givers was formed in 2018.
In its first season, the program received an award for Outstanding Achievement and was nominated for a national public broadcasting Public Media Award.
That first season of Hope Givers is available on PBS LearningMedia, Georgia Public Broadcasting, and has been included in the PBS Mental Health Educator Toolkit as well as the Sesame Workshop database.
The event was coordinated by Joy Carr with Jones County Family Connection. Carr said she worked with the agencies Resilient Georgia and Resilient Middle Georgia to fund the live event and provide materials for the students.
More information is available at hopegiversga. org.
